Chapter 6: The Rescue
The Fire Nation soldiers cuffed the young Avatar on Zuko's orders.
"Set a course for the Fire Nation!" Zuko barked as they returned aboard the ship.
"Aang, why are you doing this!?" Katara's voice echoed across the frozen landscape, filled with desperation.
"Everything will be fine, Katara! Just take care of Appa for me!" Aang called back, his voice tinged with forced optimism.
As the black ship closed its ramp, the villagers felt a mix of relief and guilt. No one felt this more acutely than Sokka, the self-proclaimed warrior of the Southern Water Tribe. He watched the ship depart with a heavy heart, his mind racing with thoughts of the boy who had just saved his village.
"Avatar Aang, huh?" Sokka muttered to himself. "I guess I can't let you die on my behalf, kid."
---
Katara stormed across the icy shore, her fists clenched at her sides. "How could you just let him go, Sokka?!" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation. "Aang saved us! He saved all of us! And you just stood there and did nothing!"
Sokka, kneeling by a small canoe he had been preparing, didn't look up at first. He tightened a knot on the rope securing their supplies, his face unreadable. "Katara, I didn't *let* him go. Zuko had an entire warship and a squad of soldiers. What was I supposed to do? Charge in and get myself captured too?"
Katara stopped in her tracks, her eyes blazing. "You could have done something! Instead of just standing there like a—"
"Like a what?" Sokka finally stood, turning to face her. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Like a coward? Is that what you were going to say?"
Katara opened her mouth to retort but hesitated. She hadn't meant to go that far, but the words had already spilled out. She crossed her arms, looking away. "I just… I can't believe you didn't even try."
Sokka sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Katara, I get it. You're upset. I'm upset too. But yelling at me isn't going to help Aang. So, do you want to keep yelling, or do you want to actually do something about it?"
Katara blinked, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"
Sokka gestured to the canoe behind him. "I've been getting this ready while you were busy lecturing me. If we're going to rescue Aang, we need to move fast. Zuko's ship has a head start, but if we push hard, we might be able to catch up."
Katara stared at him, her anger melting into surprise. "You… you were planning to go after him?"
"Of course I was," Sokka said, rolling his eyes. "Did you really think I'd just let that Prince Zuko guy take him? I'm not heartless, Katara. I just don't see the point in charging in without a plan."
Before Katara could respond, a voice interrupted them.
"And where do you two think you're going?"
They turned to see Gran Gran standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and her expression stern. Katara and Sokka exchanged nervous glances, bracing themselves for a lecture.
"Gran Gran, we—" Katara began, but Gran Gran cut her off.
"You'll need these," she said, tossing a large bag onto the snow between them. It landed with a soft thud, and Katara quickly knelt to open it. Inside were supplies—dried meat, blankets, and even a few changes of clothes.
Katara looked up, her eyes wide. "Gran Gran…?"
The old woman's stern expression softened, and she gave them a small smile. "Aang is the Avatar, and you two have found him. Your destinies are no longer here in this village. They're out there, with him."
Sokka groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Catching up to a warship in a canoe is going to be impossible, Gran Gran. We'll never make it in time."
Katara's eyes lit up as an idea struck her. "What if we don't use the canoe?" she said, turning to point at the sea. "What if we use *him*?"
Sokka followed her gaze and groaned even louder. Appa, Aang's massive flying bison, was lazily floating in the cold water, his tail swishing back and forth as if he didn't have a care in the world.
"You can't be serious," Sokka said, throwing his hands up. "We're supposed to ride that thing? Do you even know how to steer it?"
Katara shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "How hard can it be? Aang made it look easy."
Gran Gran stepped forward, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "Listen to me, both of you. This journey will not be easy, but it is necessary. The world needs the Avatar, and the Avatar needs you. Stay strong, stay together, and remember who you are."
She pulled them into a tight embrace, her arms warm despite the cold. Katara and Sokka hugged her back, their earlier tension fading as they realized the weight of what they were about to do.
When Gran Gran finally released them, she stepped back, her eyes glistening with pride. "Now go. And don't look back."
Katara and Sokka exchanged a determined glance before turning to Appa. The bison let out a low groan as they approached, but he didn't resist as they climbed onto his back.
"Yip yip?" Katara tried, mimicking Aang's command.
Appa's ears perked up, and with a powerful thrust of his tail, he lifted off the water and into the sky. Sokka let out a yelp, clinging to the saddle as they soared higher.
"Okay, this is officially the craziest thing we've ever done," Sokka shouted over the wind.
Katara laughed, the sound carrying a mix of excitement and relief. "Just wait, Sokka. This is only the beginning."
As they flew off into the horizon, Gran Gran watched them go, her smile fading into a look of quiet resolve. She whispered a silent prayer to the spirits, asking for their protection, before turning back to the village.
---
The sky was lit, the sun partly hidden behind thick clouds as Appa descended silently toward Zuko's massive metal warship. Katara and Sokka crouched low on the bison's back, their eyes scanning the deck for any signs of movement. To their surprise, there were no lookouts posted—no soldiers patrolling the upper decks. The ship seemed eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of its engines and the occasional clang of metal echoing from below.
"Where is everyone?" Katara whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Sokka frowned, his hand tightening around the hilt of his boomerang. "Maybe they're all below deck. Zuko's ship runs on coal, so they probably have most of the crew working in the engine room or something."
Katara nodded, her eyes narrowing as she studied the ship. "We need to get down there. If Aang's on this ship, he's probably being held on the lowest level. That way, even if he escapes, he'd have to fight his way through the entire crew."
Sokka groaned softly. "Great. So we're just going to waltz into the belly of a Fire Nation warship? What could possibly go wrong?"
Katara shot him a look. "Do you have a better idea?"
Sokka opened his mouth to retort but quickly closed it. "Fine. But if we get caught, I'm blaming you."
With a quiet command, Katara guided Appa to land on a secluded part of the ship's deck, near the stern. The bison's massive paws touched down with barely a sound, and Katara and Sokka quickly dismounted, their movements careful and deliberate.
"Stay here, Appa," Katara whispered, patting the bison's side. "We'll be back soon."
Appa let out a low groan in response, his eyes watching them with what almost seemed like concern.
The siblings moved quickly but quietly, their footsteps muffled by the soft soles of their boots. They found a hatch leading below deck and carefully pried it open, revealing a dimly lit corridor. The air was thick with the smell of coal and oil, and the distant clatter of machinery echoed through the metal walls.
"Stay close," Sokka whispered, leading the way. "And keep your eyes open. If we run into anyone, we're toast."
Katara nodded, her heart pounding as they descended into the ship's lower levels. The corridors were narrow and maze-like, with pipes and vents running along the walls. Every creak and groan of the ship's metal frame made them freeze, their ears straining for any sign of approaching soldiers.
As they crept deeper into the ship, they heard voices—angry, raised voices. Katara grabbed Sokka's arm, pulling him into the shadow of a large pipe just as two soldiers rounded the corner. The men were arguing about something, their voices loud and careless as they passed by without noticing the intruders.
"That was close," Sokka muttered once the soldiers were out of earshot.
Katara nodded, her eyes wide. "Let's keep moving."
They continued down the corridor, following the sound of the voices. As they rounded another corner, they found themselves near an open doorway. Inside, they could see Zuko pacing back and forth, his face twisted in frustration. Across from him stood Iroh, his expression calm but firm.
"You don't understand, Uncle!" Zuko snapped, his voice sharp and impatient. "The Avatar is more than just a prisoner. He's the key to everything! If I can bring him to my father, I'll finally prove myself. I'll finally be worthy of the throne!"
Iroh sighed, his hands clasped behind his back. "Zuko, you must think carefully about what you're doing. The Avatar is not just a prize to be won. He is a person, a child. And he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Do not let your ambition blind you to the consequences of your actions."
Zuko stopped pacing, his golden eyes blazing. "Consequences? What consequences? The Fire Nation will rule the world, Uncle. And I will be the one to make it happen."
Iroh's expression softened, but his voice remained firm. "Power without wisdom is a dangerous thing, Zuko. Do not lose yourself in your pursuit of it."
Zuko turned away, his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't need your lectures, Uncle. I know what I'm doing."
Katara and Sokka exchanged a glance, their eyes wide. Katara leaned closer to Sokka, her voice barely a whisper. "We need to follow him. If he's going to see Aang, he might lead us right to him."
Sokka nodded, though he looked less than thrilled. "Great. Just what I wanted to do—follow the angry Fire Nation prince through a ship full of soldiers. What could possibly go wrong?"
As Zuko stormed out of the room, Katara and Sokka slipped out of their hiding spot and followed at a safe distance. Zuko moved quickly, his footsteps echoing through the metal corridors. The siblings stayed close to the walls, using the shadows and the ship's machinery to stay hidden.
At one point, Zuko stopped abruptly, causing Katara and Sokka to freeze in their tracks. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as if he sensed something. Katara held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. After a tense moment, Zuko shook his head and continued walking.
"That was too close," Sokka whispered, his voice trembling slightly.
"Keep moving," Katara urged, her eyes never leaving Zuko's back.
They followed him down another set of stairs, deeper into the ship's lower levels. The air grew hotter and heavier, the sound of machinery growing louder. They passed by several soldiers, but Zuko's presence seemed to deter anyone from questioning why he was there. Katara and Sokka used this to their advantage, staying just far enough behind to avoid detection.
Finally, Zuko stopped in front of a heavy metal door. He glanced around briefly before unlocking it and stepping inside. Katara and Sokka waited a moment before creeping closer, peering through the crack in the door.
Inside, they saw Aang, sitting on a chair behind a table with his hands bound. Zuko stood over him, his expression unreadable.
As Katara and Sokka watched, a sudden noise behind them made them both jump. They turned to see a soldier approaching, his eyes narrowing as he spotted them.
"Hey! What are you two doing down here?" the soldier demanded, his hand reaching for the weapon at his side.
Sokka reacted quickly, grabbing a loose pipe from the wall and swinging it at the soldier's head. The man crumpled to the ground with a soft groan.
"Nice one," Katara whispered, though her voice was shaky.
"Let's get Aang and get out of here," Sokka said, his eyes darting back to the door.
Katara nodded, her resolve hardening. "Ready?"
Sokka took a deep breath. "Ready."
Katara and Sokka exchanged a quick nod, their hearts pounding as they prepared to burst into the room. Sokka gripped his boomerang tightly, while Katara's hands hovered at her sides, ready to bend water at a moment's notice. They didn't have time to think—they had to act.
"On three," Sokka whispered, his voice barely audible. "One… two… three!"
With a forceful kick, Sokka slammed the door open, and the two of them rushed inside, their eyes scanning the room for Zuko. Katara's hands shot up, a stream of water forming from the pouch at her side, while Sokka raised his boomerang, ready to strike.
But the room was mostly empty—or so it seemed.
Aang sat alone at a small table in the center of the room, his hands resting calmly in front of him. He looked up at them with a sheepish grin, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Just in time, huh, guys?" Aang said, his voice light but tinged with nervousness.
Katara and Sokka froze, their weapons still raised as they looked around the room. There was no sign of Zuko—no soldiers, no traps. Just Aang, sitting there as if he'd been waiting for them.
"Where's Zuko?" Sokka demanded, his eyes darting around the room. "What's going on, Aang?"
Before Aang could answer, the door behind them slammed shut with a loud *clang*. Katara and Sokka spun around, their weapons at the ready, but there was no one there. The door had closed on its own—or so it seemed.
Then, a voice echoed through the room, cold and deliberate.
"Like I told you, Aang," Zuko said, his voice coming from somewhere above them. "Your friends would be coming."
Katara and Sokka looked up to see Zuko standing on a metal walkway that ran along the upper part of the room. He leaned casually against the railing, his golden eyes glinting in the dim light. His arms were crossed, and a faint smirk played on his lips.
"Now then," Zuko said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "I think it's about time we got to talking."